Crises continue at Real Madrid, and as the club approaches a second consecutive trophyless season, a clash has erupted between coach Álvaro Arbeloa and Dani Ceballos, according to Cadena COPE.
Everyone was surprised by Arbeloa’s decision to exclude Ceballos from Real Madrid’s squad for Friday’s match against Real Betis, despite Aurélien Tchouaméni’s injury and the consequent need for another midfielder to fill in, even on the bench.
Heated clash between Arbeloa and Ceballos
According to recent reports, Ceballos confronted Arbeloa this week after missing his fourth consecutive match without even a substitute appearance for Los Blancos.
Ceballos had expected at least some playing time against Deportivo Alavés on Tuesday, but was surprised by Arbeloa’s continued decision to leave him out, which infuriated the Spanish player.
Over the past few days, tensions have risen between the two after Ceballos confronted his coach, leading to what could be described as a heated exchange. This prompted Arbeloa to exclude him from the squad for the Real Betis match as a first disciplinary measure.
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Ceballos played his last match in a Real Madrid shirt.
The report indicates that Arbeloa has decided to exclude Ceballos from Real Madrid’s remaining six matches this season.
It is highly likely that the 29-year-old Ceballos has already played his final match for Real Madrid, as he is expected to leave the Santiago Bernabéu at the end of this season.
Ceballos has only played five matches under Arbeloa, despite missing some games due to injury.
In the four matches since his return, he was not even asked to warm up once.
Ceballos responds to his exclusion via Instagram
Ceballos likely learned of his exclusion from the Betis match early on, and his response came via his Instagram account, as Marca has learned.
The player attempted to mock the situation and Arbeloa’s decisions, emphasizing that he doesn’t care much about the current state of affairs, in another indication that he will leave Real Madrid next summer.
Ceballos posted a story featuring the song “Karma” by Beno Real, with lyrics that read: “I learned to let go of everything without a fuss, to move on and experience what I’ve lived through. Not everyone who smiles wishes you well, but time reveals everyone’s true nature. I don’t retaliate, I walk away. Peace came when I got rid of my pride. I saw many fall because of their chatter, and others rise thanks to their silence.”
The Ceballos-Arbeloa dispute isn’t the first for the coach
The conflict between Arbeloa and Ceballos isn’t the first of its kind; rather, it adds to the coach’s recent struggles with several Real Madrid players.
Before the March break, a clash erupted between Arbeloa and center-back Raúl Asensio over the promising defender’s desire to miss the Celta Vigo match, which the coach perceived as “feigning injury.”
As a result, Asensio was sidelined for an extended period until he apologized to his teammates. He then gradually began playing before suffering from stomach problems in the last two weeks.
Rumors also persist regarding the poor relationship between Arbeloa and Dani Carvajal, forcing the coach to clarify that Carvajal’s exclusion was due to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s preference and not any personal issues between the two.
It’s worth noting that Arbeloa doesn’t enjoy much support within the dressing room, leading President Florentino Pérez to regret his decision to appoint him to complete the season after Xabi Alonso’s dismissal last January.
